On a cold but sunny day (no wind) thirteen of us gathered on the Great Ocean Road and commenced walking up Packhorse Track.
Trees seen were mainly Iron Barks but dotted in between were the Blue-gums Eucalyptus globulus. The subspecies are distinguishable by their buds and fruits. Ellinor was the plant/tree/fungi person for the day.
Mary holding Blue-gum stalk – all photos courtesy of Ellinor Campbell
We could hear the distinctive sound of the Crescent Honeyeaters call “Egypppt” high in the trees, feeding on the few remaining flowering gums. Big Hill Track was muddy after the recent rains and slippery. Where we could we walked on the grassy sides of the track.
Big Hill Track
We veered off the track and had morning tea on a ridge in the sunshine, overlooking great views and we could hear running water in the valley, and guessed it was probably Grassy Creek.
Morning tea with a view!
We continued climbing up Big Hill Track until we came to the junction of Reedy Creek Track.
Group photo
Down Reedy Creek Track
Lunch on logs
This track took us back to the coast and it was here we came upon three interesting fungi – the Flame, which was growing out of leaf litter and looked like pieces of red ribbon; the spectacular Purple Splash Polypore, which was growing on an old tree branch on the ground; and a Punk, which was lying at the foot of a large tree.
Flame fungus
Purple Splash Polypore
Punk
Punk up close
At the end of Reedy Creek Track, we turned onto the Transmission track and headed towards the coast, where our cars were parked.
It was a great day and the weather was kind to us.
Cheryl West Lau